Seat slide structure



Au 3, 1948. H. E. NOFZ 2,446,241 SEAT SLIDE STRUCTURE Filed May 7, 1945Q I 5 Sheets-$het 1 HTTd/f/VEY Aug. 3, 1948. H. E. NOFZ SEAT SLIDESTRUCTURE Filed May 7, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR; fiamzdzz? Waf'g'.

Patented Aug. 3, 1948 l TED STATES PATEN 1* E SEAT STRWGTURE HaroldNofz, Detroit, Mioln, assigno to lfiIartiona l stamping Company,-Detroit,;Mich., a

corporation'of Michigan Application May '7, 1945, Serial No. 592,501 9Claims. (01. 308-) 1 H b. o r v 2 I This invention 'mei'ates to seat;s1ide struotures struction of. the above desorihed tyjpe inoludin g ofthe type employed for supporting the drivers rollers formedat-ieast inpart afghan-m l seat of amotor vehicle "for adjustment toward material:and the provision of a construction and frorh the "steering wheelof suchvehicles I t abovedesoribed in which the: mailers cooperate This for itspi incipeil'obje'ctthe provision of such with the remainingmontion ofthe structure insa, seat shde structure =ofstu rd-yand improved"chamnewend novel-manner. I Y 3 eeteristios. v The above being among theobjects :of the Gba'edts of the invention in'owde the provision pmesent'i1ivention'- the "same zoonsistss-in certain of a seeit 'sl ide's'tm'o'tmleincluding a pair of units new and novel features ofconstruction and roomeach of which comprises alpah r of parts; o'nefof Hbiirations of pants to :be hereinafter described which portsis'ad'efited to lie-secured to floor with mefenenne to the accompanyingdrawings, of the vehicle and the other *ofwhioh is adopted and "thenclaimed, having the above :and other to b'es'eeured to the seaitthereofl sueh parts each objects in vi'ew. I 1-; o l I 1 v s including averticalplate-like portion arranged din the e'ccon-"rpanyingdmwingswhichillustrate with itsplene:of'thicknessvertiomamineplatesuitableembodiments or theme-sent invention like portion of each part beinginsubstentiel conand in which like numerals refer to iikezpai'rts tadt'with that-of the withereooperaiting part,- the throughout thersevera'l different views, 7 piateflike portion of one the p'artsh'ei'ng l'on- 'Fi'g; :1 is a fmon t eievationial View "of the driverseitudinally slotted alnd the-other'bf the portssestofemotormehi'clersupported:from thedioor having pins securedthe-veto noon which moilers 2i thereof hy a'fiseatislide structureembodyingthe are mounted aind reoeived m the slots; the-pro-viteature'sof-t'kietpresent invention; sion of a st-mature ese'hove'desor ibedwhich Fligrzz iis fin enlawrgedperspective view of the the p'ins oatrrya lzfleite ait their free ends se'rv'in'g rig ht hand sealtslide unitshown in Fig. .1, .showto anchor s'uo'h tre'e ends With respeot toe'ao'h ingwhe outs'ide i a'ce of the same; 1 v ot'he'i'j' the provisionda oonstruotion "as aibove 3 is a ialan view oftheunitshown'in Fig;desoribed inwhic'h the mate-which connects' the fl igu i istheperspeotive wiew o'ftheiunitshown fi'eeehds o'f-the pins is arrangedto conta'et the in 'F'igsi 2 -and 3 but showing the inner-side:thereslotted member above and below the "rollers to Ufy e I resist thetehdeney of the pins'tb bend about their Fig. 5 is a front elevationalview of the unit points of somemos with the firstmentioned shown inthepreeeding view; member; and the-provision-mf a oons'tructiomas -Fig. '6isanenlarged, ifra'gmentary, horizontal aibovedes'oi ibed in whichthe-metal tit the upper sectional view taken on the line "Ii-6 -o"f-.Fig .-4 'airid lower ed'ges-of the sl'ot inthe seti'ond member andillusitrating' the method of oonnectin'g the is bent laterally toprovide transversely directed en ds ofthe Bowden Wires tothe'str-ucture; iritegmi' flzinged portions fomfing tracks for en- #35Figfl? 1'sa verticala seoti'onal'view taiken on the gageinent'with therollers. line i 1 of 'Eig.-6; 1 n Oth'er oBjeots f the invention inoludethe pro- -Fig. 8 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view vision of-asee't s'l ide assembl-y"including-a p'a il-of token-transversely of theunit shown in Fig. 4 n'o'i 'ma'lly laterally-Spaced Units with embodyingas on the li'ne-B-8 thereof; Y wtraek and'aslide' together wi'th=-a pair-of Bow- 4 EigH'Q is e side e'ieva'tional view of the unitdenesse'mbhe's interconnecting them'f'or' inshown in the precedingviewand "illustrating a s n ihgeq-uefll and"simulton'eous movement o f bo'thmodified iorm -o'f oonstruetion; and, i 1 slides-on "their respectiverails, the 'Bow'den Wire FigslfiandlI'l etreenlarged fragmentary secassemblies being readily detachable from and tionzi-l Views-takeninthe'-same"p1a;ne as Fig. 8 applicable to t'he unitswhereby-topermit themto 5 and -fll-ustratin'g modified forms-of roller' str-ucbe shibpedinde-pehdently of, -"0r-'-a1t least-discoh- *tnire's.-- I neote'd fr'omthe units and be readily assembled -As inoonveritional types of seatslide'structures "to 'th'e' u'ni'ts by the pun-chaser, thi's enabling' athe' deviceof the present i'nven'tion includes two rela'tive'ly smallshipping paoka'gecontaining both units; one o'f which is' positionedunder eao'hside the units "and the Bowden'wire assemblies to "be"ot*-the-seat t'o be shiftably supported and each used.iunit'c'o'mprises a reilrstruoture-adaptedtobe fixed 'l urther objectsinclude thehz provision-of a'seat to thefifioor of :the'vehirileand:aseoopemtingeshde slidestructure offthe general type-zabovedescnibed stnucture' edaptedito be secured to :the seat, .ithe inoludinga novel -"form =of roller construction for tworstruoturesheingerrangedfoprelative-sliding cooperation therewith; the .-provision ofa, H,- 5moyement with-respect toeach other longitudir same direction when theseat is hally of the vehicle to permit the seat to be correspondinglyshifted therewith.

In accordance with the present invention, the rail at the side of eachunit includes a pair of plate-like members arranged with their planesvertical and arranged in substantial contact with each other andslidably interconnected with each other by means of rollers fixed to onethereof and engaged in a slot or slots in the other thereof. In thebroader aspects of the invention it makes no difference whether therollers are secured to the slide or the rail, and whether it is the railor the slide which is slotted to receive the rollers,

but preferably, and as shown by way of illustration in the drawings, therollers are carried by the slide and it is the rail that is slotted toreceive them.

Furthermore, it is unimportant as far as the I present invention isconcerned whether the rail is formed for direct engagement with thefloor of the vehicle or whether it is provided with separate supportingmeans, such as legs or the like, for supporting it in spaced relationwith respect to the floor, the latter construction being shown aspreferred in the accompanying drawings and the former construction beingshown by way of modification.

Additionally, it will be appreciated that the rail may be supported fromthe floor so as to cause the slide and consequently the seat supportedby it to be raised with respect to the floor as the'seat is'shiftedforwardly, or is maintained at a substantially constant distance fromthe floor during such shifting movement. The latter construction isshown in the drawings by way of preference.

In seat slide structures of the type under consideration it is usuallypreferable to connect the two units which support a seat in such amanner that the slides are caused to move equally. in the shifted.Although in the broader aspects of the present invention any suitable orconventional means may be provided for this purpose, the particularmeans shown and which is preferred consists of a Bowden wire structureas broadly disclosed and claimed in United States Letters Patent No.2,360,805 owned by the assignee of the present invention.

It will also be understood that the two units employed for supportingthe seat are identical to each other except reversed in direction, thatis, one is right hand and one is left hand, and except for the fact thatone of the units, usually the lefthand wait as viewed looking toward thefront of the vehicle, is provided with means for latching the rail andthe slide together in slidably adjusted position. For this reason thelefthand unit only is shown in detail in the drawings, the constructionof the righthand one being made apparent to thoseskilled in the arttherefrom.

Referring now to the drawings it will be noted that the rail 20comprises an elongated fiat metal plate arranged with its plane ofthickness vertical and its upper marginal edge is outwardly flanged asat 22 in perpendicular relationship with respect thereto. In theparticular case shown the rail 20 is adapted to be supported from thefloor by means of an angle member 24, one flange of which is adapted torest in fiat contacting relationship with respect to the floor and to befixed thereto as by means of screws or bolts 26, the vertical leg of theangle overlapping the outer marginal face of the rail 20 and beingsecured thereto by means of screws 28 and nuts 30. Intermediate itsupper 32 -to provide flanges or angles to, the plane of and lower edgesthe rail 20 is longitudinally slotted to provide track means for therollers carried by the slide and in this connection the rail 20 may beprovided with a single elongated slot, but preferably in the interestsof rigidity and strength it is provided with two slots 32, eachextending from a point adjacent the midpoint of length of the rail 20toward but short of the corresponding end thereof, the two slots beinglongitudinally aligned with one another.

'In accordance with the present invention a portionof the metal struckout from the plate 20 to form the slots 32 is allowed to remainintegrally connected'to the plate 20 and is outwardly bent along theupper and lower edges of each slot tracks 34 directed at right thicknessof the plate 20. The flanges or tracks 34 are all of the same Widthand'in forming them, after the initial operation of punching out themetal for the slots 32 and bending the rails or flanges 34 outwardly,they are preferably subjected to a coining operation whereby to squareup their inner surfaces into flat and exact perpendicularity withrespect to the plane of the plate 20 and are preferably simultaneouslythickened as best shown in Fig. 8. This results in a roller engagingface for the rails or flanges 34 providing maximum width of contactbetween them and the cooperating rollers and at the same time rendersthe track 34 more rigid and aids in reinforcing the rail 20 againstdistortion. In coining the flanges or rails 34 the metal is workhardened to a material extent, thus conditioning them to better resistwear occasioned by travel of the rollers thereover and increasing theeffective life thereof.

The slide 40. likewise comprises an elongated metal plate memberarranged with its plane of thickness vertical and in parallel and insubstantially contacting but slidable relationship with respect to theinner face of the rail 20. Its upper marginal edge is laterally flangedas at 42 to provide a bearing surface for the seat, which is indicatedgenerally at 44, and to which it may be secured as by means of screws orbolts 46. The slide 40 may be of substantially the same length as rail20 but is preferably somewhat shorter as indicated in the drawings.

At each of two points in the length of the slide 40, preferablycorresponding with the distance between the mid-points of the two slots32 in the rail 20, a pin 50, best brought out in Fig. 8, is fixed to theslide 40 in perpendicular relation to the plane thereof. The centers ofthe pins 50 are located at a distance below the flange 42 greater thanthe distance between the longitudinal center lines of the slots 32 fromthe flange 22 of the rail 20. As best brought out in Fig. 8 each pin 50is provided with a reduced neck portion 52 which projects through acorrespondingly sized hole in the slide 40 and outwardly of the innerface of the slide 40- is headed over as at 54 to rigidly fix the pin 5|]to the slide Each pin 50 rotatably receives thereon a roller 56. Therollers 56 are of an outside diameter such as to be relatively closelybut rotatably confined between the tracks 34 of the corresponding slots32 but with a minimum clearance between the cooperating. tracks, thislast feature being in the interest of eliminating possible rattlebetween the parts due to undesirable relative vertical movement betweenthe rail and the slide. Preferably, and as brought out in Fig. 8, thepin 50 at its'point of junction with the neck 52 is termed-to provide anoutwardly fla ed fihllfifiqe conical .s rracemand the innenende .the.hem of the roller 56 is .ioxmedeemplementa semere: tn: thusta pIOJlide.thrust surfaces. between t e rollers. '56. and the. pins 50. sewin to.maintain the inner ends of' the. rollers 5d 0111; of ruh ine contactwith theslide 40..

In'accondancewith the. present inmntien the outer ends .of .the pins so.are vintereciinrieet.edhi1. a latesmemher. (ill and \ehilein.thelhreader pests .of the invention the. method of seemin thenlatemember 69 tdthe pins .EIli irnmaterial aslong as it is of arigidnature, in the partied: lar construction shown each pin hfiatstseuter endis providedywith a c n ntric cylind ica neck filflf'wleduGfiddiameter which is closel rec ived in. ahole provided theremr in theplate, member 6;&,-.ahd.autward1y efthe p ate lmemhe fill s. headedovenasat- 64 t us to securely fixt eplat member fiflatothe. pins 513. Theplate member (ill extends above and 4 below the c-eqperatine trae fbeyond w ich it is inward y bent and the latetal ysflans das ahfifitoprovid flan h ing flat innersul'fa es subs antial onta t n the :innerface df :the rail v iii. Preferably he spacelhetweentheinner facespf theflanges 56 andthehuten face --ofthe slide 40, is justsulficiently-glteater fiIIanihG'thl'CknBsS of the rail .20 tanmvidernnnins learance. e he rail t e between; A. learance ef f om t 0/10 of a inehds, pneferahle in this respect. It may also he. noted. t at,theleneth of. the rollers 5 is u 33: 3.0 provide. amirgimym Qf endclearance between them and. the plate) 50.. Commensurate with free turnn ha acteris i s. .eiithe ol e s 0n e pins. 59.

The importance of the plate member 60 is that in cqnstrnetions ef th sharaet shewn if t enter ends of; the n -153 4 are. n t. braced i mmanneh ,-the pins will tend tebendahont their neint of eenneetien wth-the sl de when a. loa is Wished 2 h fifitg and because of theclearance necessarily required between the .rell ers ,56 and the tracks.34. or. their equiva ent sueh ben n willresultin point Contact between.the rollers and the apposite sides of. the .9.1 01-"- rack and may causethe rollers to jam in the slots, and in any event tn idsten early desirlclicn 9f the .mllers and the tracer-aiming, member The la eme henfiflnot only 5:: to ether, which in itse f-a s ihrisid iy ns the same. hutinbeing provided-with the flanges fifimhieh lie. in, substant allyeentatins r latie shinw th respect to the ra l. 0. any ency of the pinsto:bend at their paints .of connection .3

with; the slid 40 is resi ted b en men of a least one pf the flangeswith the rail-20. The fianeeslfifi in b ar a ins -th ail: 0. a adistance'from the centers of the pins 50 much greater than the radius.of the rQllers 56, and being nqrmally clos ly spa ed rom t r il willenntaet the ail. 28. nnen y eldin of th i s 50 before the rollers 55 cock nough o, Jam bet e n the tracks. s a resulhwith the construe: .tienshown and serves. in the natnreof an outboard support-fer theeuter.ends. of the pins 0 aids in ma n ai ins. l ne. .centaet. bet een theollers .55 and he track; 34.xvith, all f-the attendant advantages in nertien. and esith e ytnreelndes Jammin o the mllers 56 in th slots; 32under all conditiqns.

..A.s.=.-nreviQus1y explain d left and u o th s at s id namely. that ene.s e n n. e ai in the aecompanyin d aw n s is rq lde l wi latehlxneansfe releasab y lane inathe slide-in an ho s he fr e. en s Q t e. p

described; t e. sla e memb r .60

lenaitudinelhe ad us able ,nesitien the sai n the hey n this latemechanism em:

prises. an. alle e he dset!!! hating. ,Qne. ianae there l fixed in fiatanteen-ri .eel tionsh ig. with, resneet tethe. lewenteee ef thefl eeAilat. the u er dge .a th s id an s remain n an e he ieet ne .dewnwardl inparallel lien withrespeett thehedy oi the sl de the I in inwa dl pa dreation with res ect, th re: to lidateh. mm. 12 is. ivota lx eonhected tnth de hitmea sQf-anin A;- i

The latch mbers Zisiqe .ied irern. a atpieee Q--metaland it rear endbent inwa dlyas at 6. sea to. hr-olect nward yhe endthe oute i-ree deepithe f ange 12. nae. 22 s hesthequeht Ylded WA 0. .1. n Fi pm: a. lura iy of notehes lilther in. are ha edrela ion with res eet to. eaeh eth rleie tud' a ly ea he. flan e the. netehe's mm. width. and deethio like hbeine elfi asu ii ree vs he ih irardl hent end 1 0f. the'lateh memhe 12th rein.- :..A. .1. r n 80.. mainta ned un er tensio be wee snee e12.ormed enthe.

25 la qhxnemb l he ewthe in 14, and QAQWJ', Wardly s l; ear. 8.4, previdd on hevpla elmems her 69.. cohst ntlyhhses the .lateh memhen l3qiiiardeneraiiveen a ement. with. he fianeelzz. E I he l tch m mhe llihthis ..,.e. -may.- e. latQll ma limite .bxeentact the er 12. w th the.qwer surface. of. the ether. s iiah e means.

T eiemard end. ii-the atch. memb r 12.15 le e ed. .te p v de .eutwardlypro ecting h mb ec b m ans (if; w ich theonextateh ma draw such end uwar ly a ainst the-f r e. of the sprin A l. and. releas the. inwar lybent. end 16. .e th latehmernber-l; f om en ement. with ehsr iinsnotch-.1 li bM r leasi g the. s ide 40 met ment. ensitudinally. of lhdrglil. w he. d s red slidahle os ti n s eached release of pzfe su eenth en 86. 9.? the. latch memherl? wi lnerm t the shrine. 8M nroieet theend 16. of the latch member 12 into thfi lflexl; nqtch 18 reheht. ate .aisnrneht. th rewith. there y to lat t e de. $9, t e. in its lensit di ael la ted. ees ienl .nre i usly, e m a me v wh e. anysuitahle er sqhvaitiena t p o m an ma e employed het e the we unit ef th sea s ide tr turedes eeirisurihe equal a simul aneous mm. nent i bo h. s de ember wh n tsea is shi ted. i eme ns il us ated in the, drawi essentially thatdisclosedand claimed in United fitates I Letters .Batent Ne; 23.60.,805.In oth r wo ii-qem rlses a a o Bowden. Wi e. assem: l we eiwhieh isindicated a A nd the other sit Wh h s nd ate at B.- Eaeh Bewden wireassembl lhqll de a flexi le wire. en lo d inia hlh la -fienib e easi slz th W res so bein l s r han the eqrr nqnd ns s ng .2 so as to sw ether es! the e d o he letter.

One endq he a in 9 m the Bowden .wire assembly Ais glamped to the slide40. of the vleft..- har d unit, (as viewed from, the driver's seat), adas hesthrqught put in Fig.v 4 in parallelislatign with gespe ct to thedlrection of. slidable mevelnent e? the sl de!!! e e i 2 an n sear-warmss a d rela en wi h re pect to the forwardend f t e slide 0. he coperatin yyire, 99 is extended forwardly therefrqm, and is an h ed t theforwardend er the. enr esm dhas ai 39-. FhQQDP9Si endefi the casing 29ihe Bewden wire assemb y A is lamp d to. he lathe slide. Mun. .eea lwadly. la inedlreetien and the corresponding end ofthe correspondingwire99 is anchored to the rear end of the corresponding rail 29.Similarlyther'ear end ofthe casing 92 of the Bowden wire assembly '3 isclamped to the slide 40 of the lefthand assembly, as indicated in Fig.4,in a rearwardly facing direction, and its corresponding wire 90 isanchored to the rear end ofthe corresponding rail 20: Similarly, theforward end of the casing 92 of the Bowden wire assembly B is anchoredto theopposite slide 40 in the same manner as shown for the forward endof the casing for the Bowden wire assembly A of Fig. 4.

It'will be appreciated that by interconnecting the two seat slide unitsby the Bowden wire assemblies A'and B in the manner described, when thelatch i2 is released and one slide 40 is moved on its corresponding rail20 the corresponding ends of the Bowden wire casings 92 are shiftedsimultaneously therewith and relative to the enclosed wires 90mentioned. If, for instance, one of the slides 40 is moved forwardly, asfor instance the slide shown in Fig. 4, the casing 92 for the Bowdenwire assembly B will be slid along its corresponding wire 99, and itsopposite end, in moving forwardly, will cause'the opposite slide 40 tomove forwardly therewith. Similarly the casing 92 for the Bowden wire A,in moving forwardly on its wire 99, will draw its opposite end forwardlyon the correspondin wire 99 and act in the same manner to move theopposite slide 40 in the same direction and for an equivalent distance.Two such Bowden wire assemblies are preferably employed for the reasonthat the type of Bowden wire assembly employed is one in which thecasing 92 is formed as a closely wound coil capable of takingcompression through it but incapable of taking a material amount ofpull. In such caseby employing two Bowden wire assemblies positivemovement between the two slides40 is always insured through axialcompressive stresses transmitted through one of the casings 92,regardless of the direction of movement of the slides. In the particularcase shown in the drawings by way of illustration, each casing 92 of theBowden wire assemblies A and B-is'secured to its corresponding slide 40by a bracket indicated generally at 94. Each bracket is formed from aflat sheet of metal which is slit in parallel and spaced relation fromone edge thereof toward the opposite edge thereof, and the'portionbetween the slits is bent into perpendicular relationship with respectto the plane of the plateto form an ear-96. The edge of the plateopposite that edge from which the above described slits are extended isthen bent up into parallel and spaced relationship withrespect to theear 96. The ears 98 and 98 are spaced from one another by approximatelythe diameter of the casing 92 and an end of one of the casings 92 isreceived between the cars 96 and 9-8 of each bracket94. A screw 901 isproiected through the ears 96 and 98 outwardly of the end of thecasing'92 received therein and cooperates with a nut I02 to draw ears 96and 98 towards each other, thus to securely clamp'the cooperating end ofthe casing 92 therebetween. Of course, and as illustrated in thedrawings, the brackets 94 are suitably fixed to the slides 49, as byspot welding or the like, and in such position that the planes of theears 96 and 98 are parallel to the direction of movement of theslides 40on the rail 20, the twolegs provided on the bracket by bending thetongue 96 from between them being arranged in flat contactingrelationship with respect to the inner face of the correspondingrall;and the ears 9G and 98 projecting perpendicularly outwardly therefrom.

'In order to anchor the ends ofthe wires to the corresponding ends ofthe rails 20 brackets H0 are provided. As perhaps best brought out inFigs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 each bracket H9 is formed of sheet metal into anL-sectioned shape. At one end each bracket l i9 is provided with anextended ear H2 which is hooked around the corresponding end of thecorresponding rail 29. As best shown in Fig. 6 the ends of the rails 20are notched to receive-the ears H2 to aid in holding the correspondingbrackets H9 in position. An extended end or ear H4 at the opposite endof each bracket I Ill is bent inwardly and is projected through acorresponding hole formed for reception of same in the correspondingrail 20, as also best brought out in Fig. 6, to further aid in holdingthe'brackets I00 in position on the rails.

The outwardly projecting flange of each bracket H0 is provided, atspaced intervals in the length thereof and betweenits inner and outeredges, with a plurality of transverse slits H6, and the metal betweenalternate pairs of slits H6 is bent upwardly and downwardly to formalternately oppositely directed straps H8, between which the ends of thecorresponding wire 90 is projected. Then, as brought out in Fig. 7, thestraps H8 on opposite sides of the wire are displaced toward one anotherso as to bend the wire 90 into interlocking relation with respectthereto. Preferably a screw such as I26 is projected through eachbracket 1 l0 and threaded into the corresponding rail 20 to aid the earsH2 and H4 in removably securing the brackets H0 in place on the rails'With the described method of securing the Bowden wire assemblies to theseat slideunit it is possible to ship the unit to the customer with theBowden wire assemblies separate therefrom and with the brackets H0 fixedto the ends of the wires 90. The customer may then simply insert theends of the casings 92 of the Bowden wire assemlies A and B in theirproper positions and relation in the brackets 94 and slip the bracketsH0 over thecorresponding ends of the corresponding rails 20 and bysimply inserting and tightening up the screws and I20 operativelyconnect an associated pair of seat slide units together; By this means aconsiderable amount of space is' saved in-shipping.

In Fig. 9 a modified form of the construction is shown. In this figureparts identical to the parts of the structure previously described areindicated'by the same numerals, and the parts which have been changedand which correspond to the parts above described are indicated by thesame numerals but bearing a sub-letter a. Ac cordingly, a description ofthe changed parts will 'suilice, in view of the above description, tofully describe the modified construction. In this case the rail 20a andpart 24a are formed integrally with each other and from a single sheetof metal. The plate member 60a instead of having side flanges such as-BGin the first described construction extending the full length thereof,in this case has shortened flanges 660. at each end thereof andextending a short distance on both sides of the corresponding rollers 59to serve the same purpose as the flanges 66 in the first describedconstruction. Some saving in weight and metal may be effected by suchmodification.

In Figs. 10 and 11 modified roller structures are shown, each of whichembodies a non-metallic 9 part and which may thereforebe less noisy inoperation, particularly in worn condition; Inasmuch as the onlydifference in the construction shown in Figs. 1-0 and 11 is inconnection with the rollers themselves and the Supporting pins therefor,only these changes will be described, the remainder of the structurealready being understood. I

In Fig. 1 0 the roller, indicated generally at 561), comprises anannular body I30 of a suitable type of hard wood, such as lignum vitae,which has preferabl been impregnated with a, suitable lubricant. It issurrounded by a ring 1320f metal, such as steel, bronze, or the likepreferably pressed thereon. The shouldered pin 507) which supports theroller 56b is of somewhat similar construction to the pin 50 firstdescribed except that it is smaller in diameterandis not provided with ashoulder corresponding to the shoulder 58, but it is secured to theslide 40 and to the plate member 60 in a similar manner. The roller 55bis, of course, equivalent to the roller 56 first described in diameterand in axial extent.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 11 the roller 562 whichis'equivalent in diameterand axial extent to the roller 56 firstdescribed comprises an annular body Mb of 'rubbe'ror the like encircledby a metallic ring M2 and lined with a bearing liner I44, the latterpreferably being of the porous sintered metal type which has beenimpregnated with a. suitable lubricant. Preferably the ring I42 andliner I44 are vulcanized to the body 40 or otherwise suitably fixedthereto. The pin 500 may be substantially identical to the pin 50b abovedescribed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim by Letters Patent is:

1. In a seat slide structure, in combination, a supporting unitcomprising a rail member and a slide member, said members eachcomprising an elongated substantially flat sheet metal portion arrangedwith its plane of thickness vertical and said portions being arranged insli dable but sub stantially contacting relation with respect to eachother, one of said members having longitudinally extending slot meansformed therein, the metal of said member along the upper and lower edgesof said slot means being bent out of the plane of said member whereby toprovide a track means of greater width than the thickness of saidmember, the other of said members having pins fixed thereto andprojecting perpendicularly therefrom, and rollers received on each ofsaid pins within said slot means and in supported relation with respectto said track means, and outboard support means carried by the pins andengageable with said slotted member to hold said rollers alignedproperly in the track means.

2. In a seat slide structure, in combination, a supporting unitcomprising a rail member and a slide member, said members eachcomprising an elongated substantially flat sheet metal portion arrangedwith its plane thickness vertical and said portions being arranged inslidable but substantially contacting relation with respect to eachother, one of said members having longitudinally extending slot meansformed therein, the metal of said member along the upper and lower edgesof said slot means being bent out of the plane of said member whereby toprovide a. track means of greater width than the thickness of saidmember and of greater thickness than the thickness of said member, theother of said members having pins fixed thereto and projectingperpendicularly therefrom, and rollers received on each of said 10 pinswithin said slot means and in supported relation with respect tosaid-track means, and outboard support means on the distal ends of thepins 'engageable "with said slotted member to prevent co'ck'ing o'fthepins and jamming of said rollers. v

3. In a seat slide structure, in combination, a supporting unitcomprising a rail member and a slidememb'er, said members eachcom-prising an 'elongait'edsubstantially flat 'sheet 'In-etal portionarranged with its plane of thickness vertical and said portions beingarranged in 'sli-dable 'butsub stantially contacting relation withrespect to each other, one of said members having l'ongitudinall'sextending slot means formed therein, the metal of said member along theupper and lower edges of said slot means being bent out-oi the plane ofsaid member whereby to provide a track means of greater width andhardness than said member and of greater thickness and the thickness ofsaid member, the other of said. members having pins fixed thereto andprojecting perpendicularly 'herefrom, and rollers received on eaohof'sam pins within said slot means "and in. supported :rel lation withrespect to said trabk means, and an outboard support fastened totne'projecting distal ends of said pins holdin the latter fixed-withrespect to each other and having portions dis? posed substantially incontacting relationship with said slotted member to prevent cooking ofthe pins and jamming of said rollers.

i. In a seat slide structure, in combination, a rail member and a, slidemember, said members each comprising elongated fiat sheet metal portionsarranged with their planes of thickness vertical and in substantialcontact with each other, one of said members being provided with slotmeans extending longitudinally thereof, pins fixed with respect to theother of said members with their axes perpendicular to the plane of saidportion thereof and projecting through said slot means, rollers on saidpins within said slot means, and a plate member fixed to andinterconnecting the free ends of said pins.

5. In a seat slide structure, in combination, a rail member and a slidemember, said members each comprising elongated flat sheet metal portionsarranged with their planes of thickness vertical and in substantialcontact with each other, one of said members being provided with slotmeans extending longitudinally thereof, pins fixed with respect to theother of said members with their axes perpendicular to the plane of saidportion thereof and projecting through said slot means, rollers on saidpins within said slot means, a plate member fixed to and interconnectingthe free ends of said pins, and marginal portions on said plate memberpositioned for operative engagement with the first-mentioned memberabove said slot means therein.

6. In a seat slide structure, in combination, a rail member and a slidemember, said members each comprising elongated flat sheet metal portionsarranged with their planes of thickness vertical and in substantialcontact with each other,

one of said members being provided with slot means extendinglongitudinally thereof, pins fixed with respect to the other of saidmembers with their axes perpendicular to the plane of said portionthereof and projecting through said slot means, rollers on said pinswithin said slot means, a plate member fixed to and interconnecting thefree ends of said pins, and marginal portions on said plate memberarranged in substantial engagement with the first-mentioned member aboveand below said track means and serving to resist bending of said pinswith respect to said secondmentioned member. i p I p '7. Inaseat. slidestructure, incombination, a rail member and aslide member, said memberseach comprising elongated flat sheet metal portions arranged with theirplanes of thickness vertical and in substantial contact with each other,one of said members being provided with slot means extendinglongitudinally thereof, pins fixed with respect to the other of saidmembers with their, axes perpendicular to the plane of said portionthereof and projecting through said slot means, rollers on said pinswithin said slot means, a plate member fixed to and interconnesting thefree ends of said pins, and marginal flanges on said plate memberextending into substantially flat engaging relationship with respect tothe body of the first-mentioned member above and below said track meansthereon.

, 8. In a seat slide structure, a rail and a slide havingaverticaloverlapping portions, one of said portions provided with slot means,horizontal pins carried by the other of said portions andextendingthrough-saidslot means, rollerson :the r pinsiand within saidslot means, and outboard support means carried by the pins andengageable withsaid slotted portion to prevent the pins from cooking andthe rollers from jamming in said slot means. a v

, 9. In a seat slide structure, independently movable rail and slidemembers having vertical overlapping portions, one, of said-portionsprovided with longltudinalslot means, pins carried by the other of saidportions extending through said slot means, rollers on said pins adaptedto travel in said slot means, and an outboard support fastened to andconnecting the distal ends ofsaid pins whereby to hold the latter fixedwith respect to each other and having portionsdisposed substantially incontacting relationship with the slotted member whereby to preventcooking of the pins and jamming of the rollers in said slot meang-HAROLDE. NOFZ.

REFERENCES CITED,

"The'following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED s rA'r 's PATENTS Number Name Date 1,735,518 Von Valkenburg etaLNov. 12, 1929 2,240,143 Lustig Apr. 29,1941 2,272,536 Votypka Feb. 10,1942 2,360,805 Thoma'nu Oct. 17, 194a Certificate of Correction PatentNo. 2,446,241. August 3, 1948.

HAROLD E. NOFZ It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printedspecification of the above numbered patent requiring correction asfollows: Column 6, line 46, for side read slide; column 10, line 20,claim 3, for and, second occurrence, read than; and that the saidLetters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of November, A. D. 1948.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gammz'ssioner of Patents.

